2011 Citroen C4 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Citroen C4 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Citroen C4 petrol than on all cars registered in 2011.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
  Citroen C4

  10.8% All 2011 cars

  4.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

• Engine oil leaks1.7× usual
  Citroen C4

  12.6% All 2011 cars

  7.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

• Exhaust emissions (catalyst)5.2× usual
  Citroen C4

  5.2% All 2011 cars

  1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

• Engine warning light1.8× usual
  Citroen C4

  3.3% All 2011 cars

  1.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.8% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2011 Citroen C4 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 Citroen C4 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  35% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Suspension
  33% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Brakes
  32% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Lights and electrics
  31% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  14% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

• Driveshafts and joints
  11% of testsRough price £60–£350

  At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Known faults on the 2011 Citroen C4 petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Brake pedal bracket recall

  All engines

  The first of nine recalls on this C4, issued in December 2011, covered a brake pedal bracket that could break and leave the car without brakes. Later recalls covered fuel leaks, other brake problems, the engine cutting out and loose front suspension parts.

  At the viewing: Run the VIN through Citroen's recall checker or ask a Citroen dealer to confirm every recall has been done, and check the brake pedal feels firm and solid.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Car won't start as if the battery is flat

  All engines

  Some cars fail to turn over even with a healthy battery. A poor connection between the battery and the fusebox can be to blame.

  At the viewing: Start the car from cold more than once and watch for slow or dead cranking or flickering dash lights.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Jerky automatic gearboxes

  Automatic only (EGS and EAT6)

  Both the EGS automated gearbox and the EAT6 automatic give clunky, jerky shifts. The guide suggests the manual over the auto on the 1.2 PureTech 130.

  At the viewing: On the test drive, pull away gently and in traffic and feel for lurching, hesitation or harsh changes.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Radiator fans running for no reason

  All engines

  The cooling fans can come on when they shouldn't. The fan control unit usually needs replacing, which is a cheap part.

  At the viewing: Listen after switching off and while idling from cold. Fans roaring on a cold engine point to this fault.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Blistering paint on the aluminium bonnet

  All engines

  The bonnet is aluminium and its paint can bubble, mostly along the front edge. A respray doesn't always cure it.

  At the viewing: Look closely along the bonnet's leading edge for bubbles or signs of a recent respray.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Citroen C4 petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has a Citroen dealer done all the recall work on this car, and do you have paperwork for it?
2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2011 Citroen C4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2011 Citroen C4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the 2011 Citroen C4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?